Momofuku Seiobo, Pyrmont

While I spent my actual 30th birthday in Fiji (side note: I highly recommend spending the Big 3-0 on a tropical island), the night before we flew off to Nadi, Eric took me to Momofuku for my birthday dinner. The 10-course meal is without a doubt in the Top 10 of my 2014 eating adventures.

First off, I love the casual vibe – there’s something cool about the space and there’s something awesomely satisfying about the voyeurism as you sit at the bar watching chefs cook for you. It’s also refreshing that there are no white tablecloths in sight and that the chefs serve you straight from the kitchen. No menu is provided at the start (but you get it at the end), and for each course a brief description is given by the chef.

The food is superb. I had heard mixed reviews, so I was a bit wary. But seriously… There are chicken butts with roe on top, there’s marron with a gutsy layer of pistachio and peas, and there’s an insanely good choux pastry filled with ewe’s curd paired with rose syrup. That last one is saying a lot because I don’t even like choux pastry – nor things containing roses.

The ultimate course for me is the scallop dumpling with a kombu and duck broth. Gawd, it’s so good, I still randomly dream about it. Delicate, full of umami, and there are even noodles hidden underneath. That’s a tick from this carb-lover. Eric’s favorite was the partridge with truffle and endive – it’s so, so tender and bursting with flavor.

The only downer was that the famous pork buns are no longer part of the degustation. On the upside this just means I’ll have to return to taste the bar menu (pork buns ahoy!).

Note: This meal was independently paid for, but our reduced wine pairing was complimentary due to a mix-up with the order of our courses.